--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Usually by this time in the summer, we…" description: "\"“Usually by this time in the summer, we were as worn in to one another as pebbles in a riverbed. For three months we’d had complete togetherness and no..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/ann-brashares-572_experiences_usually-by-this-time-in-the-summer-we-we_2352000.jpg" --- # Usually by this time in the summer, we were as worn in to… ![“Usually by this time in the summer, we were as worn in to one another as pebbles in a riverbed. For three months we’d had complete togetherness and not much outside stimuli. What few stories we had, we’d considered, analyzed, celebrated, cursed, and joked into sand. Tonight was different. I felt…” quote by Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/ann-brashares-572_experiences_usually-by-this-time-in-the-summer-we-we_2352000.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/ann-brashares-572_experiences_usually-by-this-time-in-the-summer-we-we_2352000.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/ann-brashares-572_experiences_usually-by-this-time-in-the-summer-we-we_2352000.jpg) > ““Usually by this time in the summer, we were as worn in to one another as pebbles in a riverbed. For three months we’d had complete togetherness and not much outside stimuli. What few stories we had, we’d considered, analyzed, celebrated, cursed, and joked into sand. Tonight was different. I felt like we were each separate and full to our edges with our own stories, mostly unshared. In a way it scared me, having a summer of experiences and feelings that belonged to me alone. What happened in front of my friends felt real. What happened to me by myself felt partly dreamed, partly imagined, definitely shifted and warped by my own fears and wants. But who knows? Maybe there is more truth in how you feel than in what actually happens.”” [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Shared experiences can feel intimate, but personal stories often remain hidden, creating a sense of isolation even among close friends. **In simple terms:** Close bonds can mask inner solitude. Key Takeaway Acknowledge and share personal feelings. Themes friendship intimacy self‑discovery isolation growth Mood reflective introspective melancholic Type literary personal When to use this quote - summer camp - college dorm - long‑term friendships - creative projects Key Concepts psychology identity emotional awareness Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance shared moments with personal truth? - What fears keep you from sharing your inner story? A Different Perspective Personal narratives may be distorted by fear, limiting true understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Experiences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiences/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [What happened to me by myself felt partly dreamed, partly imagined, definitely shifted and warped by my own fears and wants. 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In so doing, we define ourselves by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-epstein/we-reduce-concretize-or-substantialize-experiences-or-feelings-which/) [Mark Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-epstein/) > [Much as I have no wish to hurt anyone's feelings, my first obligation has not been to be nice but to be true to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/much-as-i-have-no-wish-to-hurt-anyone-s-feelings-my-first-obligation/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've followed the lives of great musicians and have learned that you don't have to always write in pain. You have all of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaki-king/i-ve-followed-the-lives-of-great-musicians-and-have-learned-that-you/) [Kaki King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaki-king/) > [“Maria loved the way she and Liz could just sit in the same room together, each doing their own thing, sometimes talking, sometimes not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-metz/maria-loved-the-way-she-and-liz-could-just-sit-in-the-same-room/) [Melinda Metz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-metz/) > [But although she was with family and friends, she'd never felt more alone. She felt as if she'd lost a vital part of herself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-macomber/but-although-she-was-with-family-and-friends-she-d-never-felt-more/) [Debbie Macomber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-macomber/) > [Despite the miles between us, we remained friends. Not because we felt we had to, but because we wanted to be there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/despite-the-miles-between-us-we-remained-friends-not-because-we-felt/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“He expected her to feel what she did not know how to feel. There were things that existed for him that she could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/he-expected-her-to-feel-what-she-did-not-know-how-to-feel-there-were/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [But remember that the pain of parting from friends will be felt by everybody at times, whatever be their education or state. Know your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/but-remember-that-the-pain-of-parting-from-friends-will-be-felt-by/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [How could I tell my friend I'm in love. We have been friends,but I never felt like tis the day that he kiss me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharonda-billingsley/how-could-i-tell-my-friend-i-m-in-love-we-have-been-friends-but-i/) Sharonda Billingsley ## More by Ann Brashares > [“Because the truth wouldn't be comforting and wouldn't bring them closer again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/because-the-truth-wouldn-t-be-comforting-and-wouldn-t-bring-them/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“It’s by living that you live more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/it-s-by-living-that-you-live-more/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“¿Iban a sumirla en la tristeza antes de hacerla feliz? No, por favor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/iban-a-sumirla-en-la-tristeza-antes-de-hacerla-feliz-no-por-favor/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“When she made her way to the big picture window that framed the dining room table she froze. She stopped breathing. The anger was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/when-she-made-her-way-to-the-big-picture-window-that-framed-the/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“Lena remembered herself in all the old familiar things they said. She existed in her friends; there she was. All the parts of herself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/lena-remembered-herself-in-all-the-old-familiar-things-they-said-she/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [Everyone is fragile. Everything beautiful is fragile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/everyone-is-fragile-everything-beautiful-is-fragile/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“but it was hard to give the real world much notice when he was this close.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/but-it-was-hard-to-give-the-real-world-much-notice-when-he-was-this/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“You don't have time, Len. That is the most bitter and the most beautiful piece of advice I can offer. If you don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/you-don-t-have-time-len-that-is-the-most-bitter-and-the-most/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“You couldn’t count on Providence for anything ever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/you-couldn-t-count-on-providence-for-anything-ever/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [Gestating characters feels something like the mental equivalent of gestating a baby. In both cases, to create them you lose yourself. Or at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/gestating-characters-feels-something-like-the-mental-equivalent-of/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“He could take happiness from her, but could he give any?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/he-could-take-happiness-from-her-but-could-he-give-any/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [The weather turned. Her skin seemed to grow a million extra pores, and all of them opened to take in the warmth and tenderness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/the-weather-turned-her-skin-seemed-to-grow-a-million-extra-pores-and/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [She wanted him to notice her so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/she-wanted-him-to-notice-her-so-much/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“No matter how it felt to be near him, she had to keep her swollen heart in check.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/no-matter-how-it-felt-to-be-near-him-she-had-to-keep-her-swollen/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [Maybe happiness was just a matter of the little upticks- the traffic signal that said "Walk" the second you go there- and downticks- the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/maybe-happiness-was-just-a-matter-of-the-little-upticks-the-traffic/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) [Explore all 465 Ann Brashares quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) ## More Experiences quotes > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [“The experiences of camp life show that man does have a choice of action… There were enough examples, often of a heroic nature, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-frankl/the-experiences-of-camp-life-show-that-man-does-have-a-choice-of/) [Viktor Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-frankl/) > [It isn't necessary to seek out adventure. Opening to what is around you will produce the most extraordinary experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-b-lewis/it-isn-t-necessary-to-seek-out-adventure-opening-to-what-is-around/) Edward B. Lewis > [I've had difficult experiences and obviously there's been the birth of my son.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ward-prowse/i-ve-had-difficult-experiences-and-obviously-there-s-been-the-birth/) [James Ward-Prowse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ward-prowse/) > [Some jobs you do, they're just jobs. Others are life experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-strong/some-jobs-you-do-they-re-just-jobs-others-are-life-experiences/) [Mark Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-strong/) > [From my experience, I don't have the luxury to trust anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sirivi/from-my-experience-i-don-t-have-the-luxury-to-trust-anyone/) Sirivi > [I've gotten to go to far-off places in the world, have very unique, isolated, intense experiences for four or five months at a time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/i-ve-gotten-to-go-to-far-off-places-in-the-world-have-very-unique/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [London's where I grew up and had most of my experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzee-rascal/london-s-where-i-grew-up-and-had-most-of-my-experiences/) [Dizzee Rascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzee-rascal/) > [New experiences give you new perspectives on life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/new-experiences-give-you-new-perspectives-on-life/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [“I’m just happy to have experienced life; to have had a beautiful son and to have loved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-b-powell/i-m-just-happy-to-have-experienced-life-to-have-had-a-beautiful-son/) [Aaron B. Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-b-powell/) > [In my own case, I'm an artist, and I'm really interested in expanding the vocabulary of human action, and basically empowering people through interactivity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/golan-levin/in-my-own-case-i-m-an-artist-and-i-m-really-interested-in-expanding/) [Golan Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/golan-levin/) > [I feel really lucky that I somehow have blagged my way into loads of different experiences. I find making a film fascinating, I find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-flynn/i-feel-really-lucky-that-i-somehow-have-blagged-my-way-into-loads-of/) [Johnny Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-flynn/) > [“The art of being wise is the art of knowing that solutions don’t come from individuals, but rather experiences.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/the-art-of-being-wise-is-the-art-of-knowing-that-solutions-don-t-come/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [We have the philosophy that you can learn from past experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodri/we-have-the-philosophy-that-you-can-learn-from-past-experiences/) [Rodri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodri/) > [“When we observe how some people know how to manage their experiences--their insignificant, everyday experiences--so that they become an arable soil that bears fruit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/when-we-observe-how-some-people-know-how-to-manage-their-experiences/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) [Browse all 1,156 Experiences quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiences/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Usually by this time in the summer, we were as worn in to one another as pebbles in a riverbed. 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